Welcome to the doors of Hell of Turkmenistan

There are not many places in the world whose name creates the impression of terrible. However, the name "the doors of hell" for a hole in Turkmenistan does not seem excessive.

Located in the Central Karakum desert, Turkmenistan, Darvaza gas crater have been burned over the past 40 years more non-stop.

Not much is known about the origins of the science world by Darvaza. However, the most commonly spoken story set in 1971, when Turkmenistan was still part of the Soviet Union.

Allegedly, a group of experts of geology came to the mine to look for gas Karakum. Once you've found a potential location, they started drilling. As it turns out, that location is right above the gas SAC so that any land to collapse and bury the entire existing equipment.

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The collapse also triggered the reaction from sediment stones around it and create some of them at once. One of them is 69 meters in diameter with a depth of 30 meters.

Fortunately, there were no fatalities in the incident, but a new problem started: 69 meters in diameter crater that keep removing the methane gas.

Though not toxic, methane and oxygen presence bothered making all sentient in the area it's hard to breathe and die. In addition, methane is also highly flammable and potentially create a great explosion.

To that end, the researchers decided to light a fire in Darvaza crater in hopes that all the gas in the area on fire and disappear within a few weeks. These estimates, however, turns into a month, year, and now, almost half a century since the incident, Darvaza gas crater is still turned on.

To do this, Kouronis preparation for 18 months, including expert training with the action so as not to panic when it caught fire. Then, equipped with special breathing, clothes that reflect heat, and climbing belt made of Kevlar so as not to melt; Kouronis down to the base of the Darvaza.

Speaking to National Geographic, Kouronis describes his experiences like landing on another planet. He viewed as Darvaza "Colosseum fire" made of thousands of small fires and reads like a jet engine.

"We managed to find some bacteria that live in the bottom and feel comfortable in temperature. However, more important is the fact that they are not found on the ground around the crater, "he said.

He went on, outside our solar system, there are many planetary conditions similar to the inside of the crater. Knowing that no life could survive in it will expand the number of planets we can investigate to find evidence of extraterrestrial life.